Summary: On this episode of The Cost of Doing Business: Strong shekel=apocalypse? Israel’s exporters attack the Bank of Israel and the government for failing to curb the rise of the shekel, despite having already purchased billions of dollars. Zvika Oren, President of Israel’s Manufacturers Association, explains why the falling dollar may herald the destruction of Israel’s economy. Yair Lapid’s housing plan disintegrates: the finance minister’s plan to eliminate the value added tax on new apartments encounters more resistance as Israelis understand just how discriminatory it really is. What will happen if and when Lapid’s plan is dead and buried? Dr. Efrat Tolkowsky, CEO of the Gazit-Globe Real Estate Institute and a lecturer at IDC Herzliya, explains. Africa Innovation is a charity bringing Israeli water and agri-tech innovation to impoverished African countries. What does this mean? Sivan Ya’ari, founder and president of Africa Innovation, tells us all about it Startup of the Week: CrowdAdviser is a new Israeli platform for crowd-sourcing business advice. Why do you need to crowdsource advice about how to run your business? Guy Simon, CEO and founder of CrowdAdviser, has the answers. Music: Bad Brains - I And I Survive System Ali - Bonim Et Habayit Mehadash The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project - A Shame And Pain J Mascis - I Feel Like Going Home
